Tonight, we kick off WWE’s biggest weekend of the year. NXT hosts its second TakeOver special of the year, hailing from its own backyard in Orlando. Featured matches for tonight are an 8-man tag match, the debut of Aleister Black against Andrade “Cien” Almas, Asuka defending the NXT Women’s Championship against Ember Moon, a triple threat NXT Tag Team Championship elimination match, and Shinsuke Nakamura getting his NXT Championship rematch against Bobby Roode.
Preshow Segment
Before the show starts, we see footage from WrestleMania Axxess where SAnitY attacked No Way Jose during the fan-centered event. William Regal announced that Jose will not be able to compete alongside Tye Dillinger, Roderick Strong, and Ruby Riot against SAnitY, so his allies will either have to find a new partner or compete in a 4-on-3 handicap match.
SAnitY vs. Tye Dillinger, Roderick Strong, Ruby Riot, & Kassius Ohno
It looks like Tye Dilliner and company were able to find a partner in Kassius Ohno. Ohno just returned to NXT a few weeks ago and he wasn’t scheduled for any matches tonight anyway. His near super heavyweight size helps his team decrease the size advantage that Killian Dain provides SAnitY. This feud all started because Eric Young was demanding that Tye Dillinger joins SAnitY, but Dillinger’s constant refusals led to him getting attacked week after week and his friends decided to back him up.
Everything seemed to be going well for Dillinger’s team, but Alexander Wolfe would help Killian Dain take out Tye Dillinger while everyone else was laid out at ringside. Winners: SAnitY
Predicted Winners: Tye Dillinger, Roderick Strong, Kassius Ohno, & Ruby Riot (0/1)
Andrade “Cien” Almas vs. Aleister Black
Tonight is the first NXT match for Aleister Black. Black has wrestled once on WWE programming against Neville in an exhibition match during the UK Championship Tournament (he was under his previous ring name, Tommy End). He is known for his work in the United Kingdom wrestling scene, but tonight he faces someone who made a name for himself in Mexico and Japan, Andrade “Cien” Almas.
After a few strikes to Almas’ head, Black finishes him off with a spinning back kick called Black Mass. Winner: Aleister Black
Predicted Winner: Aleister Black (1/2)
The Authors of Pain (c) (w/Paul Ellering) vs. #DIY vs. The Revival – NXT Tag Team Championships (Elimination Match)
#DIY captured the NXT Tag Team Championships from The Revival at TakeOver: Toronto in one of the best matches of the year. Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa would hold the titles until TakeOver: San Antonio, where they would lose to The Authors of Pain. This match is #DIY’s owed rematch, and The Revival have made enough of a statement to get themselves in this match. Unlike most triple threat matches, the elimination stipulation means that the champions must be involved in a fall.
All six wrestlers are laid out outside the ring, then The Authors of Pain manage to come to and they take out Tommaso Ciampa with the Last Chapter. This is now a regular tag match between the current champions and the former two-time champions. Eliminated: #DIY
The Authors of Pain toy with The Revival for a few minutes, then finally put them away with the Super Collider. Winners, and STILL NXT Tag Team Champions: The Authors of Pain
Predicted Winners: The Authors of Pain (2/3)
Asuka (c) vs. Ember Moon – NXT Women’s Championship
Asuka has been undefeated for over a year and for most of her NXT career, she has held the NXT Women’s Championship. Ember Moon is also undefeated after making her debut last August at TakeOver: Brooklyn II. Moon’s impressive undefeated streak convinced William Regal to put her in this match, where one of these women will inevitably see her first loss.
Ember Moon has Asuka set up for the Eclipse, but the champ shoves the referee into the ropes, forcing Moon to crash to the floor. Asuka kicks Moon in the skull then gets the pinfall. Winner, and STILL NXT Women’s Champion: Asuka
Predicted Winner: Asuka (3/4)
Bobby Roode (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura – NXT Championship
During their championship match at TakeOver: San Antonio, Shinsuke Nakamura injured his knee and Bobby Roode took advantage to capture his first title in WWE. Nakamura went through knee rehab over the following month and is back to compete in his owed rematch.
Roode attacks Nakamura’s previously injured leg throughout the match and it leads to him picking up the victory. Roode is only able to pick up the victory after hitting a Tornado Glorious DDT on the King of Strong Style. Winner, and STILL NXT Champion: Bobby Roode
Predicted Winner: Bobby Roode (4/5)
